Hundreds of sexual abuse cases reported at children's camps across U.S.
CBS News has identified hundreds of reports of sexual abuse that occurred at children's camps across the United States. We found reports of more than 500 victims who were allegedly sexually abused at children's camps over the past 55 years. At least 21 of those cases surfaced this year alone.
Victims' advocates tell us the real number of abuse cases is likely much higher, since many are never reported.
In a story you'll only see on "CBS This Morning," correspondent Jerika Duncan spoke to a woman whose son accused a camp counselor of abusing him in 2009. (For her son's protection she wanted both of them to remain anonymous.)
"After you took a shower, you'd put on your towel, and he didn't want you to wear underwear under it," the Texas boy said in a video, telling a psychologist what a camp counselor did to him in 2009. It allegedly happened over the course of 12 days at an overnight summer camp named Camp La Junta.
"He would check all the kids, but under their towel," he said. "He wouldn't look under there. He'd just stick his hand up."
When he returned home, the boy's mother says she knew something was wrong. "He was a different kid," said the woman, identified as Jane Doe. "He was not the happy-go-lucky little boy that loved to play outside. He was totally different. He just wanted to lay on the couch."
It wasn't until 10 months later that her son revealed a 20-year-old camp counselor named Matthew Bovee had allegedly molested him.
Duncan asked, "And what was your initial reaction?"
"I wanted to throw up," Jane replied. "I was nauseous. And all I could think of is to tell him I love him."
It's a story that's been repeated again and again across the U.S. Combing through reports dating back to the 1960s, CBS News coun...
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director